E3 2012: A Preview

Thursday, May 24, 2012 by cyberacoustics

You might think summer begins with Memorial Day, but for me, summer doesn’t start until my annual pilgrimage to LA during the first week of June. I get to leave the cool, wet weather of the northwest for some much needed warmth and sunshine. But this isn’t a vacation, it’s far better than that...it’s E3 2012.

E3 is the world's premier trade show for computer, console, smart phones, and everything in between. It draws tens of thousands of people, all eager to see what’s next in interactive entertainment. The most influential people helming some of the most innovative companies in the business all make it a priority to attend E3 every year. Sounds geeky doesn’t it? But really, it’s not! Ever since tablets and smart phones entered into the entertainment world, E3 has increased its mass appeal. And I’m sure you know plenty of geeks that still like video games.

My prediction for this year: the star of E3 this year will be Wii U. Nintendo’s mission in LA is to blow everyone away (unlike what happened at E3 2011), so you should expect them to provide both a launch date and a host of publisher commitments. What should you NOT expect? Anything resembling a 720 or PS4 reveal. Not going to happen, and sorry, Timmy. It won’t be available for Christmas.

Other manufacturers to watch include Ubisoft, which will be showing off a newfound focus on digital-only games, as well as a few exclusives for the Nintendo Wii U. Their pre-E3 press release hints at some explosive new announcements, too, which should be rather exciting, including the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed III, Far Cry 3, Rayman Legends, and Rocksmith.

Microsoft’s core centerpiece will, of course, be Halo 4. Expect Black Ops II to feature prominently in their press conference, as will Kinect. Forza Horizon will be shown but you shouldn’t expect any earthquakes here.

THQ’s news is well-known: Darksiders is readying to ship, and there’s bound to be an announcement or two.

That is a quick snap shot of the Computer and Console gaming line up. What I am really looking forward to is what will be among the offering sfor smart phones and tablets. Stay tuned for my big E3 wrap-up after the show, and please let me know if there is something worth checking out while I am there.